Information regarding child; investigation; petition; contents

§ 16–2302. Information regarding child; investigation; petition; contents When a person gives to the Director of Social Work of the Juvenile Court of the District of Columbia, or other officer of the court duly designated as his representative, information in his possession that a child is within the provisions of section 11–1551, a duly designated officer of the court shall make preliminary investigation to determine whether the interests of the public or of the child require that further action be taken, and report his finding, together with a statement of the facts, to the Director of Social Work. When practicable, the in-77 Stat. 587quiry shall include a preliminary investigation of the home and environmental situation of the child, his previous history, and the circumstances that were the subject of the information. When the Director of Social Work finds that jurisdiction should be acquired, he shall, after consultation with and approval by the corporation counsel or his assistant assigned to the court, authorize a petition to be filed. Where the Director fails so to find, the person giving information to the Director may present the facts to the corporation counsel or his assistant, who, after investigation by an officer of the court as herein provided, may authorize a petition to be filed. The proceedings shall be entitled, In the matter of ———, a child under eighteen years of age. The petition shall be verified by the officer making the investigation, or other person having personal knowledge of the case, and shall allege briefly the facts which bring the child within the provisions of section 11–1551, and shall state the name, age, and residence of (1) the child; (2) his parents; (3) his legal guardian, if there be one; (4) the person or persons having custody or control of the child; and (5) the nearest known relative, if no parent or guardian can be found. When any of the facts herein required are not known by the petitioner the petition shall so state.